Khao Lak’s iconic Memories surf beach is set to undergo a major transformation into a green-focused resort town named Matalay, which translates to “come to the sea.”
Global design firm Gensler has created a master plan that reimagines the area, integrating the existing Memories Beach and surf facilities into a vibrant surf village with sustainable bamboo architecture.
Matalay will feature a stunning 1.1-kilometer stretch of white sand beach and will include five oceanfront resorts. The development will incorporate a green belt and multiple lakes to enhance mobility throughout the site. It will also include a hospital, an international school, wellness centers, glamping options, a town center with commercial spaces, residential areas, and cultural attractions.
Thai creative leader Boonserm Premthada from Bangkok Project Studio has been tapped to design art installations and a park that will add to the area’s appeal.
The Boonsoong family fully owns the Matalay project, and the development advisory team is led by former JLL Hotels and Hospitality Group senior executive Mike Batchelor with his company, Hospitality Capital Advisors Group (HCA).
Construction is already underway, and HCA is currently in discussions with potential co-developers for the hotel sites.
Here is an amazing opportunity to get up close and personal with one of Phuket’s most prominent luxury hospitality advocates. The session features a candid conversation with Dr. Allan Zeman, whose game-changing developments have created a global following.
Join us for fast-paced, in-depth 90-minute learning session updating the Phuket property sector for mid-year 2025 and the outlook ahead. There will be a highly relevant talk on Thailand’s Leasehold Ownership and a tax primer for developers and property owners. The conversation will include data-led metrics.
This event is co-organized by PropertyGuru Thailand Property Awards and C9 Hotelworks together with Delivering Asia and Sudara Residences. Featured in this session are expert speakers from Lan Kwai Fong Holdings, Hughes Krupica and HLB Thailand.
The C9 Sessions is an ongoing initiative by one of Asia’s leading advisory group’s C9 Hotelworks with the purpose of educating the hospitality and real estate industries, inspiring change and advancing entrepreneurial thinking.
This session will be invaluable for property developers, real estate sales and marketing, hospitality and tourism industry, and professional service providers.
Event Schedule
Date: Wednesday 7th May 2025
Venue: Andara Resort & Villas Kamala Phuket, SILK Restaurant
Registration: 3:00 pm onwards
Session: 4:00 to 5:30 pm
Networking Drinks: 5:30 to 7:00 pm
Program
Introduction to the Thailand Property Awards – 20th Anniversary Edition
Jules Kay, Managing Director, PropertyGuru International (Thailand)
Why Phuket? An Investors Perspective
Dr. Allan Zeman, Chairman, Lan Kwai Fong Group
David Johnson, CEO, Delivering Asia
Phuket Property Market Trendst Update – Midyear
Bill Barnett, Managing Director, C9 Hotelworks
Inside Thailand’s Leasehold Property Ownership
Desmond Hughes, Senior Partner, Hughes Krupica
Tax Primer on Leasehold Property for Developers and Property Owners
Paul Ashburn, Co-Managing Partner, HLB Thailand
Moderators
Jules Kay, Managing Director/PropertyGuru International (Thailand)
Sumi Soorian, Founder, Mrs B Group and Judge Thailand Property Awards (Phuket)
Attendance is complimentary. Advance registration is required and QR code from Eventbrite is required for entry.
To register for the free event CLICK
As Phuket moves toward the end of its tourism high season in April and into the low season, Phuket property professionals are asking, “What’s next?”The pressure is on for Thai-listed developers from Bangkok to demonstrate income growth, as the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) continues to decelerate.
Top Bangkok-based groups currently active in the Phuket market include One Origin, Sansiri, AssetWise, Siamese Asset, Ananda, Land and Houses, Charn Issara, and others. These developers are focusing on two specific tiers of projects aimed at foreign buyers. The first is small, entry-level, mass-market condominiums, while the second targets the upper end of the market with luxury single-family homes.
Another emerging trend is the development of larger, mixed-use projects in inland areas of the island. These developments are lifestyle-focused and cater to end-users or investors seeking recurring rental yields. A significant shift in the market is the rise of hybrid developments, where large-scale land is subdivided into micro-projects in collaboration with other developers.
One notable example is Ananda’s Mira Valley, which is partnering with Mono and the growing Punyisa brand. Together, they are populating this larger community with specialized developers who offer niche products but are attracted to the concept of a large integrated living complex. We expect to see more of these hybrid developments, along with more custom-built lots, signaling a departure from the many cookie-cutter, mass housing projects currently available in the market.
Regarding data, C9 Hotelworks has compiled rental data for the full year of 2024 from Thailand’s leading property portal, Fazwaz.com. With thousands of transactions analyzed, here are the key highlights focusing on the rental segment:
- In Bangkok, 89% of online rentals are long-term, and 94% are condominiums rather than houses. Demand for one-bedroom units makes up nearly half of the market, followed by two-bedroom units at 25%. The top three nationalities of renters are Thai, US, and UK.
- Looking at the transaction market, average sales prices have shifted due to the resale of older, larger units with higher absolute prices, despite an influx of smaller, entry-level, lower-priced units.
- In Phuket, the secondary market is growing, and single transaction prices have decreased by 20-25% due to a combination of resales and smaller, more affordable condominiums.
- On the island, 54% of rentals are long-term, with a slightly higher proportion of houses compared to condominiums. One-bedroom units are in high demand for condominiums, while three-bedroom units are the most sought-after for houses. The top three nationalities of renters are Russian, UK, and US, with Thais emerging as a growing segment.
We will continue to closely track real estate trends throughout the shoulder season and into the low season, especially considering the high volume of new project launches. Stay tuned.
The C9 Sessions is headed to Bangkok on Tuesday 11th March 2025.
One of the hottest topics out there at the moment is Thailand’s rental market. With a backdrop of surging tourism numbers vacation rentals are in high demand. While on the investment side, longer term letting is becoming an increasingly attractive yield play for real estate owners.
Join us for fast-paced, in-depth 90-minute learning session covering both the short and long-term segments in both urban and resort locations. There will be a highly relevant talk on Thailand’s Hotel Act and analysis of the current issues facing the industry. The conversation will include data-led metrics. Other key topics include how to develop rental properties, and a tax primer.
The C9 Sessions is an ongoing initiative by one of Asia’s leading advisory group’s C9 Hotelworks with the purpose of educating the hospitality and real estate industries, inspiring change and advancing entrepreneurial thinking. This event is co-organized by Delivering Asia and supported by PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards. Featured in this session are expert speakers from Sudara Residences, Booking.com, Chandler Mori Hamada and HLB Thailand.
This session will be invaluable for those in the real estate, hospitality and investment sectors.
Registration Link CLICK
Event Schedule
Date: Tuesday 11th March 2025
Venue: InterContinental Bangkok, Pinnacle 6 Room
Registration: 1:00 pm onwards
Session: 2:00 to 3:30 pm
Program & Speakers
Thailand’s Short-Term and Long-Term Urban and Resort Marketplace
Bill Barnett, Managing Director, C9 Hotelworks
Developing Luxury Resort Properties with Rentals – Case Study
Natkanya Saengpho, Director- Sudara Residences
David Johnson, CEO, Delivering Asia
Latest Trends in Online Vacation Rentals Across Thailand
Rebeca Mora, Key Account Manager – Chains/Mekong Region, Booking.com
A Dive Into Thailand’s Hotel Act and Impact on Short-Term Rentals
Piyawannee Watanasakolpunt, Counsel, Chandler Mori Hamada
Tax Primer on Tax Implications for Rental Properties
Paul Ashburn, Co-Managing Partner, HLB Thailand
Attendance is complimentary. Advance registration is required and QR code from Eventbrite is required for entry.
The C9 Sessions will be in Singapore this coming Monday 24th February 2025 in our latest event. Branded residences are becoming a significant asset class in both the real estate and hospitality space. As property developers, real estate investors and property buyers are learning, brands are at the forefront of the trend.
Join us for an in-depth 90-minute learning session covering the latest trends in hotel-branded residences and the entry of luxury fashion and automotive brands. The conversation will include data covering not only Singapore, but also market-wide metrics across all the Asian property markets. Other key topics include cross-border investment and capital markets, and insights into the emergence of luxury property collectors.
The C9 Sessions is an ongoing initiative by Asia’s leading branded residences advisory C9 Hotelworks in educating the hospitality and real estate industries, inspiring change and advancing entrepreneurial thinking. This event is co-organized Delivering Asia and supported by The Ascott Limited, The One Atelier, and PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards. Other key speakers from leading read estate groups including, PropertyGuru, CBRE and Sudara Residences.
This session will be invaluable for those considering developing branded residences and mixed-use properties, investment, financial institutions, family offices, within the real estate industry.
Registration Link CLICK
Event Schedule
Date: Monday 24th February 2025
Venue: The Robertson House by The Crest Collection, Singapore
Registration: 1:00 pm onwards
Session: 2:00 to 3:30 pm
Program
Introduction and Presentation of Asia Branded Residences Market Update
Bill Barnett, Managing Director, C9 Hotelworks
Speakers
Saowarin Chanprakaisi, Vice President, Business Development, The Ascott Limited
Junrong Teo, Vice President, Business Development, The Ascott Limited
Gianfranco Bianchi, General Manager – Asia Pacific, The One Atelier
Jason Thelen, Senior Director – Sales and Marketing, Sudara Residences
Ananth Ramchandran, Head of Advisory & Strategic Transactions, Hotels & Hospitality – Asia, CBRE
Dr. Nai Jia Lee, Head of Real Estate Intelligence – Digital and Software Solutions, PropertyGuru Group
Moderator
David Johnson, CEO, Delivering Asia
Attendance is complimentary. Advance registration is required and QR code from Eventbrite is required for entry.
Branded residences and mixed-use projects are becoming a significant player in Philippines’s hospitality space. As property developers, real estate investors and property buyers are learning, this is a complex space that requires well-structured projects.
Join us for a unique 90-minute learning session about all the moving parts in this rising marketplace. The session will feature leading experts from international brands, international marketing and communications and actual market data.
Another highly relevant topic includes how the current domestic-led real estate market can learn from other Asian markets to attract overseas buyers.
The C9 Sessions is an ongoing initiative by Asia’s leading branded residences advisory C9 Hotelworks in educating the hospitality and real estate industries, inspiring change and advancing entrepreneurial thinking. This event is co-organized with Delivering Asia and supported by The Ascott Limited, Nobu Hospitality, Tajara Leisure and Hospitality Group, Asia Property Awards and The One Atelier. This session will be invaluable for those considering developing branded residences, hotels, mixed-use property, investment and financial institutions, and the real estate industry.
Register here
Event Schedule
Date: Tuesday February 4th, 2025
Venue: Ascott Bonifacio Global City (BGC) Manila
Registration: 1:00 pm onwards
Session: 2:00 to 3:00 pm
Program
Introduction and Overview of Japan Branded Residences Market
Bill Barnett, Managing Director, C9 Hotelworks
Branded Residences’ Models in the Philippines – A Developers Primer?
Saowarin Chanprakaisi, Vice President, Business Development, The Ascott Limited
Vanessa Koo, Vice President of Business Development, The Ascott Limited
Emerging Trends in Fashion, Lifestyle and Automotive Brands for Residences
Gianfranco Bianchi, General Manager – Asia Pacific, The One Atelier
How Nobu Creates Premium Pricing for Properties
Lee Lin, Regional Director, Asia Pacific, Nobu Hospitality
The Importance of Brands for Luxury Developments
Cyndy Jarabata, President & CEO, TAJARA Leisure & Hospitality Group | Chairperson, PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards
Reaching International Buyers. How Can Philippine Developers Penetrate New Markets
David Johnson, CEO, Delivering Asia
Attendance is complimentary. Advance registration is required and QR code from Eventbrite is required for entry.
In case you missed the Thailand Tourism Forum 2025 in Bangkok last week or did attend, and want to rewatch some sessions please find video links to all below. The event drew over 1,000 attendees and was the 14th year for TTF. We look forward to returning in 2026, but for now please enjoy the individual session videos –
Main Event – Thailand Tourism Forum 2025
Click
Introduction
Bill Barnett, Managing Director, C9 Hotelworks
Click
Hotel Market Insights
Jesper Palmqvist, Regional Vice President Asia Pacific, STR
Click
Managing Lifestyle vs. Traditional Brands
Siradej Donavanik, Vice President Development, Dusit Hotels & Resorts
(Moderator) David Johnson, CEO, Delivering Asia
Click
Social Media Power: Inducing Travel Demand
Paul Keen, Director of Project Management, QUO
Click
The Hot List – Top Luxury Travel Trends in Thailand
Patrick Finn, Vice President – Development, IHG Hotels & Resorts
(Moderator) Wimintra J. Raj, Founder, Hotelintel.co
Click
Decoding Thailand’s Hotel Landscape
Orn Yomchinda, Senior Vice President, Investment Sales – Asia, JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group
Rathawat Kuvijitrsuwan,Senior Vice President, Advisory &
Asset Management – Asia, JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group
Click
Redefined Wellness Tourism in Thailand
Dr. Wanviput Sanphasitvong, Physician, VitalLife Scientific Wellness Center & Bumrungrad International Hospital and Business Development Director, VitalLife
(Moderator) Charles Blocker, Chief Executive Officer, IC Partners Ltd
Click
The New Explorers: Young Generation Travel Trends
Viona Zhang, Deputy Managing Director, C9 Hotelworks
Nichanun Boonprasert, Student, Dusit Thani College
Click
Beyond Ordinary: Dope Accommodation Alternatives
Koko Tang, Founder, Colorful Earth
Beverly Chen, Co-Founder, Cloud Collective
Willem Niemeijer, CEO, YAANA Ventures
(Moderator) Matt Gebbie, Director, Pacific Asia, Horwath HTL
Click
Green Minute: Sustainability in Tourism
Eric Ricaurte, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Greenview
Bjorn Courage, President, Phuket Hotels Association
Click
Bar, Restaurants and Concepts (BRAC)
Click
One of the most significant changes to Phuket’s real estate sector this year is the repeal of the 80-meter development height limit. In a recent Government Gazette, the Thai Cabinet approved a re-zoning proposal by the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, which now allows development in Zone 6 of Phuket to extend up to 140 meters.
This decision effectively paves the way for development on land above the previously restricted 80-meter mark in Phuket.
Impact on the Market
The lifting of this restriction will have an immediate effect on projects that have undeveloped land located above 80 meters. The value of these properties is expected to rise significantly as they become eligible for new development opportunities.
The change also benefits luxury hotels and housing estates that own land in higher elevations. With the ability to expand and link their properties to existing infrastructure, these developers can now explore more extensive projects.
Concerns and Challenges
However, there are key concerns that need to be addressed. The development of Phuket’s hillsides raises issues such as potential landslides, flooding, and increased runoff, which could have significant environmental impacts. These risks need careful management to ensure sustainable development.
Looking Ahead: The Phuket City Plan and Future Changes
Looking toward 2025, the impact of this regulatory change will be further influenced by the new Phuket City Plan, currently being developed by the Department of Works and Town & Country Planning. This new plan will replace the existing zoning regulations for the entire island and could include significant shifts in how land is used.
There is speculation that the new zoning system may adopt a Floor Area Ratio (FAR) system, similar to that of Bangkok. This would set limits on the amount of floor space allowed on certain plots of land. Additionally, some high-density areas on the island may be designated for buildings with a height limit of 60 meters.
